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February 11, 2000/5 Adar 1 5760, Vol. 52, No.23
'Growing from strength to strength' Phoenix, Scottsdale Hadassah merge
VICKI CABOT
Contributing Editor
Seeking to heighten their profile and strengthen their presence, the two area Hadassah chapters are becoming one.
The decision to merge the Phoenix and Scottsdale chapters of the national women's organization was made in early December. A six-month transition period will culminate with the installation of a joint board in May and formal operation as Hadassah Valley of the Sun as of June 1.
Hadassah, founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, is the largest women's and largest Jewish organization in the country. Since its inception, it has worked to improve the lives of women in Israel and at home, and has been a steadfast supporter of the Hadas-sah hospitals in Israel.
In recent years, the organization has expanded its agenda to address issues such as breast cancer awareness, domestic abuse and separation of church and state.
"We are joining forces to make Hadassah a more powerful entity in the Jewish community," says Toby Goldberg, president of the Phoenix chapter, which has 800-900 members. "There is strength in numbers."Thea Friedman, president of the Scottsdale chapter, which also has 800-900 members, will be the first joint president. Goldberg will serve as past president.
Friedman says the chapters have been considering joining forces for several years. Changing demographics, including a new profile of the Hadassah volunteer, prompted the move.
With more women in the work force, and less time for Jewish communal activities, as well as a core of aging members who require special services, the organization saw the need to streamline its operation and marshall its forces, say the leaders.
"We are combining the strength of leadership," notes Goldberg. "We'll have a larger pool."
The merger positions Hadassah Valley of the Sun as one of a handful of key Hadassah locations, designated hub cities. As such, it will qualify for professional staff and an area office, previously unheard of luxuries for what has traditionally been a volunteer-led organization, priding itself on its low administrative overhead and limited professional management.
Jody Goldman has been hired as managing director, a full-time position, and the group currently is negotiating for 1,200 square feet of office space near Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard.
A full-time administrative assistant will also be added to the staff, and Lisa Blumstein will continue in her position as membership specialist.
Goldman, who worked as a Hadassah field consultant in Dallas before relocating to the Valley in December when her husband was transferred here, describes the 'new' Hadassah as "volunteer-led and staff-managed."
She explains that only in the past decade have professional staff worked outside of Hadassah New York headquarters.
Regional offices and administrative staff will provide a "resource center" for the local community, bringing services and professional expertise directly to the chapter, she says.
More professional assistance will yield greater efficiency, Goldman predicts, and allow the chapter to further expand its offerings to its members. Hadassah is structured with a number of individual groups, each catering to a specific interest or affinity group.
Currently about a dozen such groups are in the Valley. The groups are each part of a chapter. The merger leaves three chapters locally: Sun Lakes, Sun Cities and Valley of the Sun.
Friedman is excited about the opportunities the merger - and the new staff and office - hold for the new entity.
"It will be easier on our women," she says, noting that office staff members will oversee tasks such as publishing and mailing the monthly newsletter and planning and organizing chapterwide events, including this year's annual fashion show, co-sponsored with State of Israel Bonds.
The office will provide a venue for board and committee meetings, and its facilities, including access to copy machine and fax, will prove a boon for volunteers.
A core team, comprising of members from the Phoenix and Scottsdale chapters, is overseeing the transition.
Objectives and budget parameters for the coming year have already been laid out, says Goldman.
"We are proud to have been chosen," says Friedman, who has been a Hadassah member for more than 25 years, the last eight in the Valley. "It's a wonderful thing for our members."
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